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The Great American Gabberfest: Congress of the Kickdrum

Please rise! The Congress of the Kickdrum is now in session!
As this year’s Gabberfest Anthem proudly announced, it was a full-on convention of misfits, dreamers and instigators drawn to a single flashpoint of action: rocking hardcore for 2 days straight under the unforgiving Las Vegas June sun. Temperatures of over 111 degrees bathed this year’s dedicated attendees at what is becoming America’s default meet-up of the harder styles.

We woke up Saturday morning after spending the previous night at EDC. Not only were we tired and sore from dancing all night in the heat, but we were hungry! We elected to start the day off at the Belagio buffet to fuel up and pre-game with their bottomless cocktails! After a solid hour of eating and drinking as much as we could, it was time to head to the fest.Walking up the the Hard Hat Lounge where the event is held, you can hear the warlike assault of the baselines from several blocks away.

The Hard Data DJ Team

Foreign dignitaries this year were Phoenix, Epidemic and Rohdan from Australia. The HARD DATA was well represented this year as “the official” HARD DATA Team of Lostboy, Mindcontroller and Deadly Buda turned the heat up outside and inside on both stages Saturday.

In addition, American hardcore legend Rob GEE headlined the event, bringing his twenty-plus years of gabber expertise to the table to inspire young and old alike. His set spanned from old classics, like “Army of Hardcore” to his newer material like the recently new and improved version of “Hard Sweetcore.” GEE was an integral part of the very first Gabberfest, and it was great to see him return to give the gabbers a kick drum to live on.

The White Ape overseeing the festivities

Frequent contributors to the magazine rocked the line-up as well, as Flap Jack, M27 and Seppuku each rocked fierce vinyl sets, Vigor rocked rawstyle, CAP devastated the tour bus stage with all his own tracks, Arcid coordinated the Techno Belligerent stage and The White Ape presided over the entirety of the festivities.

But, that’s just the list of usual suspects, a who’s who of hardcore from around the country was there too. Not one bad set the entire weekend. It was thick from beginning to end! Eni, Energy Alleul, Metal Jesus, Inspektor Gadjet, Gabber Twinz, How Hard, Lauren Valentine, Symtek and System Malfunction kept brought the energy to the crowd even in the unforgiving heat.

By Sunday morning it was clear that the heat was taking it’s toll on the crowd’s energy, but with the Hardcore blasting everyone gave it their all and I have spoken with had a blast! (At one point during the event it got so loud the speakers at the inside stage!) It was 100% on this year, nothing can beat the energy you get when you combine hardcore and a crowds of dedicated fans. That being said, important changes could be in the works for next years Gabberfest, and rumors of its move to a different time of year was a “hot” topic of conversation. At over 100 degrees each day, Gabberfest has been more like an endurance test sometimes, than an actual good-time rave. The waterguns, tents, mister and pools help, but eventually one must migrate to the air-conditioning or risk passing out. In addition, the event falls on EDC weekend which seems to prevent some people from coming, as the hotel ticket prices in Vegas can be particularly expensive, and it seems that many Gabberfest attendees do not attend EDC. So, part of the congress this year was openly debating a radical shift in time for the event. What do you think? What would be the best time of year for Gabberfest, and why? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section!

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Amnesys RANKED! The Best 5 Tracks EVER?

Dario Renzi, known under the stage name Amnesys, is an Italian hardcore and gabber DJ and producer working under the famous label Traxtorm Records. His career starts when, in 2001, he records a demo and personally gives it to Cristian Itali, aka Impulse Factory.

In 2004, under Impulse Records, Amnesys releases his first official EP, named The Ultimate Motherfucker, which is still played at raves today. These tracks earned him the recognition of two big names in the industry, Maxx and Giangy, also known as The Stunned Guys. The two artists scouted him and helped him release two other EP’s under Impulse Records. After that, Dario was deemed ready to jump to the real deal: producing and releasing tracks under the giant Traxtorm Records.

In 2007, Amnesys officialy becomes a Traxtorm Records artist and releases his first EP under this label. Those four tracks will truly mark the beginning of his career and propel him to the rank of a big player on the hardcore scene. He gets booked for several big parties, and his latest release, “Worldwide Crisis”, gets voted best record of the year by the MOH Radio live-show audience.

Now, let’s discover listen together to Amnesys’s best 5 tracks and enjoy them to the last!

  1. Worldwide Crisis:

Which track to start with if not the one that propelled Amnesys to fame? Listening to this, everyone can understand why it was voted best record of the year in 2008. Even the stiffest people will dance to it, so it’s not a surprise that hardcore techno fans and party animals alike went crazy for it.

  1. Underground Revolution:

This is one of the most played tracks by DJs all over the world, and we can clearly get why! Only someone deaf wouldn’t go wild when listening to it, and we here suspect even people with hard hearing would feel the beat in their bones and dance to it!

  1. Catastrophes:

Get ready for a wild ride! The powerful beats will make you head bang, so be sure of taking some pain killers if you don’t want your neck to feel stiff. Yes, that’s how addictive this track is. And the neck pain is real after listening to that one, believe us, we’ve been through it and it was totally worth it!

  1. The Ultimate Motherfucker:

This is one of the artist’s first releases. Even back then, he had that crazy kick that makes his music so unique. Listen to it and feel the genius!

  1. Elevation:

Last but not least, one of Amnesys’s most famous releases. The powerful sounds go really well with the overall futuristic vibe of this track.

Since his early beginnings, Dario has been tacking the hardcore industry by storm and he’s not about to stop his rise to the title of Master of hardcore. Indeed, in those last years, he has been booked by several big promoters and famous clubs. So, make sure to watch him closely, he’ll definitely leave his mark on the hardcore scene.

For more info about Amnesys, check out his Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/DjAmnesys/

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Neophyte: 5 Classic Tracks!

Jeroen Streunding, known for gabber and hardcore fans as Neophyte, is a Ducth DJ and producer. Having started in 1992, he is now one of the biggest names in the hardcore music industry.

In 1999, Jeroen takes the risk and founds his own label, Neophyte Records, even though it was an extremely hard period for gabber artists back then. Indeed, at that time, being a producer of gabber music was controversial, since the Dutch government considered that hardcore music fans used too much drugs and acted as hooligans. Neophyte answers to the government’s statement by releasing his famous track, produced along with The Stunned Guys, Army of Hardcore.

One of Neophyte’s singles, Always Hardcore, produced with two of his fellow artists under the scene alias Bodylotion, is considered as being part of the 10 most influential tracks in Dutch pop culture. This is a testimony of Neophyte’s legendary unique take on underground music.

Discover here his 5 most popular tracks, starting of course with Always Hardcore. May you always stay hardcore to the bone!

  1. Always Hardcore:

This track definitely sounds like a war cry to us. Powerful, dark and raw, it defines Neophyte’s style perfectly. Listen to it and you’ll understand why it’s now one of the most popular songs in the Dutch pop culture.

  1. Army of Hardcore:

This answer to the Dutch government is everything you can imagine a hardcore track to be: strong, dark and rebellious, it will make you head bang like crazy! So clap your hands and join the army of hardcore!

  1. Alles Kapot:

“Alles Kapot”, which literally means “Everything broken” is an ode to hardcore and gabber music everywhere. The raw sounds make it hard not to be taken by it, even if you’re not a fan of Neophyte.

  1. Coming Home:

This track is a little bit on the softer side, having smoother, more rhythmical sounds to it. It’s the perfect demonstration of how flexible Neophyte can be with his productions. So, for a few minutes, forget your daily problems, and dance!

  1. Hardcore Hooligans:

We’re ending this list with Hardcore Hooligans, a pure hardcore track. This is, without any doubt, a revolution anthem!

After 25 years of activity, some might think that Neophyte is getting old or has-been. They couldn’t be more wrong! These last few years, he has been collaborating with many artists on the scene, which makes his sounds always fresh and diversified. He’s an artist who’s definitely not afraid of change, and we, here, love him exactly for that!

Discover more about Neophyte by visiting his Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/djneophyte/

 

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ART OF FIGHTERS: RANKED! 5 Arty Tracks!

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Under the masks, Art of Fighters, or AoF, is a musical trio of Italian hardcore and gabber DJs and producers Cristian Nardelli, Luca Lorini and Matteo Pitossi. The three artists’ musical journey started in 1997, back when they were teenagers and still rookies in the hardcore world. They produced their first E.P.”The Beat Can’t Change” in 2000, at the age of 18. They then went out to make their biggest hit yet, “Artwork”. This track is definitely what turned them into big players in the international hardcore scene.

Art of Fighters make a reputation for themselves by performing in different clubs in all of the European continent, mostly in Italy, The Netherlands, Germany and Spain. They are also famous for their unique live-sets: They always perform wearing scary hockey masks, like the one seen in the movie “Friday 13th”.

From 1997 to now, Art of Fighters have been playing in several parties and festivals and their rise to fame have been basically unstoppable since then. They are now a reference in the hardcore international scene, not only in Europe, but in other countries where the hardcore genre is still considered very underground such as Japan, Australia, the US or even some South American countries.

Their sounds are known to be raw, powerful and hard, as you can see it (well, hear it actually) in the 5 tracks bellow. Enjoy it!

  1. Artwork:

This track defines perfectly the nature of Art of Fighters’ style. Quick, rough and energetic, you will probably start dancing to it without realizing it.

  1. Nirvana of Noise:

The sounds are dark, mysterious and powerful. I can already imagine this track in an action movie scene or some dark British TV show (the British really know how to make dark TV shows, let’s give them that).

  1. Goodbye (See you next time):

The sounds in this track are a little bit more soft and rhythmic. You’ll listen to it, dance to it, and appreciate it in all its genius.

  1. A New Today:

A collaboration that is definitely worth the detour! This mix of deeply hard sounds, energetic rhythm and Lily Julian’s voice will leave you panting.

  1. Words of War:

This is where you discover that, more than just producers, Art of Fighters are storytellers. You will enjoy the scenario of this track as much as the sounds.

Art of Fighters are now a force to reckon with in the hardcore industry. Their unique, special sounds turned them into one of the biggest names on the scene and they’re not slowing down.

Follow them on their Facebook page here:

https://www.facebook.com/artoffighters/

 

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Partyraiser: The Best 5 Tracks RANKED!

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Partyraiser is definitely one of the oldest players in the hardcore scene. In 1995, Wesley van Swol, who would soon be known under the stage name Partyraiser, started DJ-ing in parties in his hometown, encouraged by his family and one of his best friends, who helped him learn the initial tricks of working the turntables. Even back then, Wesley van Swol impressed others by his skills. It’s in one of those numerous parties that Partyraiser met Bart Revier AKA Distroyer. They produced their first tracks together and went on playing in small events together.

Luckily enough, the pair ended up meeting Dutch Gabber Network Records’ Vincent Heijnen in one of their many parties, and he was very interested in their music. This impromptu meeting resulted in a vinyl called “A New World Order” that has been critically-acclaimed by none other than Lady Dana and DJ Paul.

Soon after, Wesley van Swol and Bart Revier split up, each starting his own solo career. And it’s not until 2001 that Partyraiser truly finds his voice, creating his own concept called “Doomsday”. This step is what really brought him out to the hardcore world. He started working outside of his province and gaining recognition outside of The Netherlands.

After his breakthrough, everything changed for Partyraiser. He became a phenomenon that every hardcore fan talked about. Partyraiser describes his style as “hardest hardcore”, the fruit of many influences ranging from house to terrorcore and even old rock, as one of his favorite artists is Elvis Presley.

So, in the light of all this, let’s discover together Partyraiser’s 5 best tracks.

  1. Sound Becomes One:

No needs to wait for the beat to go from slow to quick with this one. It starts off hard and softens in the middle, which brings a very welcome change. Truly listen to this song, and you will find yourself flying. Aaaaand, in the third minute, the track returns to that crazy quick vibe it had in the beginning, which might confuse some people who aren’t used to Partyraiser’s very eclectic style.

  1. Time To Raise The Party:

This is definitely the party track. Just imagine yourself in a rave, somewhere in Amsterdam, drink in hand and neon lights surrounding you, just feeling the music in your bones and being part of a crowd that moves like a monster with one thousand heads. So, listen to the man and raise that party!

  1. Our Power:

This is a truly powerful track, and not just because of its name. The sounds are hard, dark and more on the terrorcore side.

  1. From The Westcoast:

With some rap in the middle and a quick beat, this is the perfect west coast sound. Just forget yourself for a few minutes and feel the music, you’ll find yourself dancing without realizing it!

  1. Like An Animal:

Wow, this starts strong! This track doesn’t give you time to acclimate to the music, you just head bang like crazy from the beginning, because there’s no other alternative!

Partyraiser is an artist who knows how to use all of his imagination and inventiveness to create music that transcends space and time. His way of looking at the hardcore style is open minded and original, which explains the use of many musical styles in the same track. It’s pleasing to the ears, as his ever growing fan-base proves.

To know more about Partyraiser, check out his Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/PartyraiserOfficial/

Or… go to his upcoming show Dec. 3, 2016 in Los Angeles, WINTERFRESH MUSIC FESTIVAL!